Aug. 13, 1961 - The quietness of East Berlin's deserted streets was shattered in the early hours of the morning by the screaming of sirens as police cars, motorcycles and truckloads of police sped through the city. The action came shortly after a declaration by the East German Communists that effective controls must be put into force on the borders of West Berlin because of a "perfidious agitation campaign" by the West. The declaration made it clear these measures were directed at stopping the flow of refugees from East to West through West Berlin. The flow of refugees has recently been reaching 1,700 daily.
Comments